Would you really be surprised if Hopkins beats Calzaghe?

You're a hater.

Calzaghe is a really good fighter.

I had my doubts too, but after seeing him in the ring with Kessler, the man is a living legend, same as B-Hop.

 

Would I really be surprised if Hopkins beats Calzaghe?

Yep, very. It would be seriously impressive if he could pull that off at his age.

 

Surprised, NO, but Hopkins sure will be considered a legend, I don't know about you guys but this man at 43 is unbelievable and gets the job done. You know how many fighters are in their 30's and people consider them washed up fighters (Roy Jones JR., Oscar De La Hoya, Tito, Barrera, Morales, Castillo) and he's 43 and still a top p4p, that's saying a lot.

 

You guys are DELUSIONAL

 

Calzaghe is up there.

 

:huh

Who has a better mix of speed and work rate? He has the fastest handspeed at 168 and at 175 only Dawson comes close and he throws over 1000 punch's a fight :good

 

Yes. I can't see Hopkins beating Calzaghe. It would be shocking. Calzaghe has not lost in 17 years. He's very skilled, very hard to hit, and throws about 40 more punches a round.

 

Surprised.
Shocked.
Dumbfounded.
Astonished.
Dumbstruck.
Astounded.
Speechless.
Awestruck.
Amazed.
staggered.
Thunderstruck.


Now, I hope we get fair reffing and judgng.

Lewis won 10, possibly 11 rounds against Holyfield (not close rounds either) and somehow Holy got a 'draw'.

 

Simply observing their last fights, and at their respective ages, this is more than fair.....Joe has a lot left in the tank, whereas, BHop looked tired. To answer the question, I would be surprised.

 

It's a shame so much of these discussions are filled with disparaging remarks about the fighters. So what I will do below is a make a list of things I admire about both fighters. Tell me what you think.

Joe Calzaghe- Great mobility for a man his size. Amazing hand speed. He doesn't have one punch KO power but who needs that when he can hit you with seven & put you down? People who face him are astounded by his prestigious work rate. He is an amazing athlete who I have never once seen tired in the ring.

He can fight on the outside & in. He is a superb boxer but has the heart of a warrior who loves a tear up. His fight with Charles Brewer was an example of this where Joe was prepared to take & give out in equal proportions. I'm sure his tendency to do this must give his dad & trainer fits but hey, thats what makes him the fighter people love & he wouldn't be the same without that aspect to his game.

Bernard Hopkins- Came up the hard way defending his IBF belt for what he described as "chump change" on ESPN. After his loss to the superb Roy Jones in one of his toughest fights he bounced back to consolidate his position as one of the worlds leading middleweights. He was finally given the chance to shine in Don Kings unification tournament that culminated in B-Hop KO'ing Tito in the final round to become undisputed champion.

Hopkins has had to adapt his style with age. If you watch his earlier fights he was far more aggresive & more aesthetically pleasing for some. I, however, can appreciate both sides to his game & it's a testament to his clean living that he is still fighting at his advanced age at elite level.

It's with great sadness that I see so many bad things said about these two men by so called boxing fans when, infact, they should both be celebrated as elite fighters who are a credit to our game. The fitness levels of both men are outstanding with Joe having the edge in raw ability when it comes to combat.

I have already stated how I see this fight going so I wont repeat myself. For me, Hopkins & Joe are the two greatest exponents of their art at 160 & 168 respectively. This is a true spectacle that we should all savour as I'm not sure how much longer both men will partake in the fistic art.

Joe & Bernard I salute you.

 

I'd be shocked if Hopkins won this. The only way I can see it happening is if the fight gets rough and Joe gets a cut, resulting in an early technical decision. Otherwise, Joe throws too many punches for the fast-fading Hopkins to be competitive, and Bernard won't dent Joe's chin.

Prime Hopkins vs. prime Calzaghe would be a terrific fight, but now Bernard is too far past it. Great respect for both, though.

 

good post.

a lot on esb from the uk would not have seen the early hopkins.

hopkins from the johnson fight was prime in your face hopkins and a fighting machine and i have always picked that version of hopkins to beat the best version of calzaghe.

 

A link to some nice early footage of Hopkins. Even back then you could see he was something special.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga7C8p1FLGM

 

seen that fight before.
hopkins coming in on short notice was a very agressive compact fighter.

this was the typical hopkins style for years.

only age changed him, but then it does all boxers.

 

the only way hopkins wins is by decision and only by judges who are grateful to bernard for curing their insomnia all these many years. the fact that bhop is still fight after having fights where he throws 11 punches a round 3 years ago is a joke. he is done and calzage is going to flatout embarrass him.